A new term has become popular recently among Chinese netizens: ‘naked marriage’ (裸婚). Don’t be mistaken, but the term has a special meaning: it means getting married without a house, a car, a diamond ring and a proper wedding ceremony. Just taking a picture and getting a marriage certificate is all that is involved. Will you accept such kind of marriage?

Among these ‘naked’ aspects, having no house is the key point. A popular Chinese TV drama, Dwelling Narrowness, strikes chord with China’s ‘house slaves’ (房奴), especially those born after 1980, whose youth ambitions are wrecked because of the high property prices in China and inability to afford a mortgage.

Perhaps ‘naked marriage’ is common in Western countries, as couples in love will not care too much about having no flat, car or a big fat bank account. However, it is different in China, as housing is a very important symbolic guarantee. Few unmarried young women (or their parents) would agree to marry to unsuccessful men. And one important criteria of success is whether you have a flat.

This seems to be confirmed by an online survey last month conducted by Sohu. In a survey named ‘In this new era, will you accept naked marriage?’, 43% say they will and 47% say they will not. However, when the result is classified by sex, it reveals a more interesting pattern: 80% of male will accept while 70% of female will not.

How to choose between unconditional love and realistic concerns? What can we read from the result about the Chinese concept of marriage? Comments on the Sohu website offer some interesting perspectives:

It speaks of a social problem. The society exerts too much pressure on men. In this fast growing economy, salary is not fair given the rising price. The male friends around me are afraid of talking about marriage and discouraged by the spending it entails. Nowadays, women demand a lot: flats, cars, etc. Just think about the slim salary men get and today’s living costs. The typical monthly salary could only buy you a floor tile, not to talk about the living expenses. Unless you have a second job or illegal income, ordinary men can rarely afford a flat before marriage. This creates a lot of pressure for men. Perhaps the concept of ‘naked marriage’ is a test of love. Love is the happiness created together, not in advance by men only.

‘Naked marriage’ is an escape from the reality. As a twenty something young woman, I have met many women of marriage age, together with their parents, and they are actually quite reasonable. My parents said, since housing is so expensive, it would be unreasonable to demand young men to buy a flat before marriage. Having a flat is good, but without a flat, both sides could solve it gradually. My parents also said, the character of the man is more important than whether he has money or not. Therefore, there are still many reasonable women around; those demanding houses, cars or diamond rings are rare. Of course, it’s another matter if you are after those material girls. Nonetheless, isn’t naked marriage a bit too much? I think it’s safer to live separately instead. Those men who want naked marriage are irresponsible, because you never think about contributing to a good life with your other half!

Public intellectual Wuyuesanren (五岳散人) explores on the cultural reasons of why more men prefer ‘naked marriage’ than women:

It’s not that women are more realistic, but because our society is still male-centered, which means that the bulk of the family’s responsibility still falls on men. This also proves that our ladies still realise this fact and behave accordingly, and that the gentlemen do not have the courage to take on this responsibility.

Modern society’s solution to the dilemma is through financial innovation, transferring elder people’s excess consuming capacity to young people on credit… Taking on a mortgage is an example. Still, many people could not afford a house, or dare not adjust lifelong income patterns through these innovations. Apart from the fact that the down payment is too high, people worry about their financial future. On the other hand, the banks also worry about people’s future. The result of these worries is that only very few can enjoy these innovations.

Look, if we avoid discussions on morality and culture, we can still find realistic reasons. But if we want any change, it would be better to criticise on the culture. It is safer, and would not hurt special interest classes.

Support our work

Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders.

9 comments

For a moment I thought it was literally naked marriage. I smile.
I attend to that of Colombia says, “Owning a home is not wealth but not have it is absolute poverty.” Have Married Housing sin must be a difficult economic situation in the sea of China or Latin America.
Excellent writing. Congratulations.
Best regards!

This sounds typical western to me. I married a lovely chinese lady and we rent a apartment. I did give her a diamond ring and promised to care for her as best I could on my pension. She and I live quite well and she is not looking for riches, but rather for a caring, sharing partner in life. We do set aside money in savings for our future.

However, it is different in China, as housing is a very important symbolic guarantee. Few unmarried young women (or their parents) would agree to marry to unsuccessful men. And one important criteria of success is whether you have a flat.

Way to overfuckinggeneralize and make all Chinese people seem superficial and materialistic, Andy.